President Tsai Ing-wen attended the opening ceremony of the Romantic Route 3 Arts Festival on Oct. 19 to unveil an art installation in front of the Presidential Office Building. The two-month Hakka festival is kicking off from Oct. 19 to Dec. 15 at various locations including Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, and Taichung City.

Stating that to revive Hakka culture is one of her administration’s goals, President Tsai explained that the national project of Taiwan Romantic Route 3 is a milestone for geographically and culturally connecting Hakka communities across the nation.

She pointed out how the government is carrying out cultural and developmental projects throughout the Liudui region in southern Taiwan and along the Provincial Highway 9 in eastern Taiwan, adding that the inaugural world Hakka exposition will be held in the near future to raise the global profile of Taiwan’s Hakka heritage.

At the opening ceremony, Hakka Affairs Council Minister Lee Yung-de noted that many brilliant artists at home and abroad were invited to join the event and present a Hakka renaissance through their unique art creations. All the art pieces tell the stories of the current generation, displaying the charms of Taiwan Romantic Route 3 and capturing the essence of Hakka culture for posterity, he explained.

At the Oct. 19 opening event, Taiwanese artist Lin Shuen-long (林舜龍) brought his creative process to Ketagalan Boulevard, using Hakka elements such as bamboo materials and persimmons cushions to build his installation art. Over one thousand participants took part in the activity, sitting in front of the Presidential Office Building and enjoying festivities with family and friends.

 

The 58-day festival is the perfect opportunity to see incredible artworks that complement local landscapes, embark on tours of Hakka settlements, and attend more than 100 cultural activities. All festival-goers are welcome to join this unique Hakka experience. 

After the opening ceremony, Minister Lee accompanied Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) to unveil an exhibition called “Ca Ngi (茶遇, an encounter with tea)” as part of the Taipei leg of the Romantic Route 3 Arts Festival. The exhibition is taking place from Oct. 19 through 27 at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.